The Congress of the Republic reviewed and approved in record time an initiative that seeks to restore the rights of independent deputies, but they left aside a salary increase for legislators, as was proposed in the original initiative.
The decision was made within the Technical Support Commission that met urgently this Thursday, September 5. Its purpose was to analyze the initiative presented by deputies that has legal problems due to its representation within the Legislative Body.
The bill was presented by deputies Gustavo Cruz and Evelyn Morataya of Vision with Values (Viva); Ignacio Quijada, Javier López, César Fión and Darwin Lucas of the National Unity of Hope (UNE); along with deputy Raúl Barrera of the Semilla Movement.
The decision, which was described by some deputies as “express”, was obtained in just one meeting of the Commission.
The initiative, which could be a legal lifeline for deputies who have been declared independent due to legal problems or political decisions, obtained a quick agreement to be ruled on, which would allow the initiative to begin its passage through the plenary for its three debates and be approved in the ordinary manner.
The ruling, however, ignored the intentions of some deputies who sought to increase their monthly salary, which currently stands at around Q29,150.
The verdict
Table of Contents
- 1 The verdict
- 2 Express opinion
- 3 Did you sign without reading?
- 4 Here are some People Also Ask (PAA) questions related to the title “Guatemalan Congress Approves Initiative to Restore Rights of Independent Deputies”:
- 5 What are the main objectives of the initiative approved by the Guatemalan Congress to restore the rights of independent deputies?
Table of Contents
The president of the Technical Support Commission, León Felipe Barrera, from UNE, said that the ruling leaves aside the possibility of a salary increase because the issue is not a priority at this time.
“We believe that this is ultimately a non-priority issue in the problems that the bill seeks to resolve. In any case, it is the plenary that should consider it; furthermore, it has generated a lot of noise, a lot of dissatisfaction and we made a responsible analysis of it,” the deputy justified.
The intention of the law, he said, is to ensure that all elected deputies can exercise their rights without limitations. This implies issuing summons, having representation in Block Leaders, presiding over commissions and being part of the Board of Directors.
“There are malicious mechanisms being used in the law. If I do not agree with a deputy for voting for or against a law, then I expel him, I make him independent and he can no longer exercise his rights,” said de León.
The power to group independent deputies into blocks, said the president of the commission, does not mean reactivating defection, which was prohibited in the last reform to the law of Congress.
“This is not about enabling defections. We were very careful because it does not establish that deputies should join other political parties, but that if circumstances lead them to become independent, their rights as deputies will not be affected,” said Barrera.
Express opinion
The call for the analysis of the initiative took some deputies of the working group by surprise, among them Rodrigo Pellecer, from Comunidad Elefante.
“It was read on Tuesday, it was taken to the committee on Wednesday and the president called an urgent meeting for today – Thursday -. At that meeting they already had a report ready, which I refused to sign, because I do not know it,” said the deputy.
During the meeting, some deputies described the favorable opinion with modifications as a “fast-track” document.
“There are points in the initiative that I do not agree with, the purpose of the commission is to make a decision in time, so that it can be analyzed. What I will do is explain my vote and vote against,” concluded Pellecer.
Did you sign without reading?
Among the deputies who presented the initiative is Raúl Barrera, elected by the Semilla Movement. Messages were sent to him and his phone was called, but only his assistant answered and indicated that the legislator was in a meeting and would return the call. He did not do so.
Another speaker is Congresswoman Evelyn Morataya, who said that the salary increase included in the initiative was not included in the proposal that was originally discussed and that she did not support it.
“That article was included when we were in plenary session, and unfortunately there was no opportunity to discuss the rest of the content further,” said the deputy.
Morataya did not specify which deputy gave him the initiative to sign and insisted that the original proposal did not include a salary increase for deputies.
“The spirit is that the legislative blocs that make up a political party, membership is not a requirement for deputies who are declared independent to also be able to exercise their rights,” he said.
The Technical Support Commission hopes to receive a favorable opinion with the corresponding signatures next Monday, September 9, while waiting for the block leaders to be able to include it in the next session.
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#ruling #leaves #discussion #salary #increase #deputies #supports #privileges #independents
Guatemalan Congress Approves Initiative to Restore Rights of Independent Deputies
In a record-breaking move, the Guatemalan Congress has approved an initiative to restore the rights of independent deputies in the country’s legislative body. The initiative, presented by a group of deputies from various political parties, aims to ensure that all elected deputies can exercise their rights without limitations, regardless of their party affiliation.
Background
The Guatemalan Congress, also known as the Congress of the Republic, is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Guatemala, comprising 160 deputies who are elected by the people <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CongressoftheRepublicofGuatemala”>[1]. The Congress plays a vital role in shaping the country’s laws and policies, and its members are responsible for representing the interests of their constituents.
The Initiative
The initiative, presented by deputies from Vision with Values (Viva), National Unity of Hope (UNE), and the Semilla Movement, seeks to address the issue of independent deputies who have been declared independent due to legal problems or political decisions. These deputies often face limitations in exercising their rights, including issuing summons, having representation in Block Leaders, presiding over commissions, and being part of the Board of Directors.
The Verdict
The Technical Support Commission, responsible for analyzing the initiative, met urgently on September 5 to discuss the proposal. The commission, led by León Felipe Barrera from UNE, approved the initiative in record time, leaving aside the proposal to increase the monthly salary of deputies, which currently stands at around Q29,150.
Reasoning
Barrera justified the decision, stating that the issue of salary increase is not a priority at this time and should be considered by the plenary. He emphasized that the intention of the law is to ensure that all elected deputies can exercise their rights without limitations, and that the power to group independent deputies into blocks does not mean reactivating defection, which was prohibited in the last reform to the law of Congress.
Express Opinion
Some deputies, including Rodrigo Pellecer from Comunidad Elefante, expressed surprise at the rapid analysis and approval of the initiative, describing it as a “fast-track” document. Pellecer refused to sign the report, citing that he did not have sufficient time to review it.
Did You Sign Without Reading?
Among the deputies who presented the initiative, Raúl Barrera from the Semilla Movement and Evelyn Morataya from Vision with Values (Viva) were approached for comment. Morataya stated that the original proposal did not include a salary increase for deputies and that she did not support it.
Next Steps
The Technical Support Commission hopes to receive a favorable opinion with the corresponding signatures next Monday, September 9, while waiting for the block leaders to be appointed. The initiative is expected to move forward to the plenary for its three debates and eventual approval in the ordinary manner.
Conclusion
The approval of the initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing the issue of independent deputies in Guatemala. The Congress’s prompt action demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that all elected deputies can exercise their rights and fulfill their duties without limitations. As the country navigates its complex political landscape, this development is likely to have far-reaching implications for the future of Guatemalan politics.
References:
[1] Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CongressoftheRepublicofGuatemala>
[2] MEMBERS OF THE GUATEMALAN CONGRESS. (n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved from <https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC0000914692.pdf>
[3] GUATEMALA 2023: FROM AUTHORITARIAN DEEPENING. (n.d.). Scielo. Retrieved from <https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sciarttext&pid=S0718-090X2024005000105&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en>
What are the main objectives of the initiative approved by the Guatemalan Congress to restore the rights of independent deputies?
Guatemalan Congress Approves Initiative to Restore Rights of Independent Deputies
In a recent development, the Guatemalan Congress has approved an initiative aimed at restoring the rights of independent deputies, but has left aside a proposed salary increase for legislators. This decision was made within the Technical Support Commission, which met urgently on September 5 to analyze the initiative presented by deputies.
The bill, presented by a group of deputies from various parties, including Vision with Values (Viva) and the National Unity of Hope (UNE), seeks to ensure that all elected deputies can exercise their rights without limitations, regardless of whether they are affiliated with a political party or not. This includes the ability to issue summons, have representation in Block Leaders, preside over commissions, and be part of the Board of Directors.
The decision to approve the initiative was described as “express” by some deputies, as it was made in just one meeting of the Commission. However, the ruling ignored the intentions of some deputies who sought to increase their monthly salary, which currently stands at around Q29,150.
León Felipe Barrera, president of the Technical Support Commission, explained that the salaries issue was not a priority at this time, and it was the plenary that should consider it. He also stressed that the initiative’s intention is to ensure that all elected deputies can exercise their rights without limitations.
According to Barrera, the power to group independent deputies into blocks does not mean reactivating defection, which was prohibited in the last reform to the law of Congress. “This is not about enabling defections. We were very careful because it does not establish that deputies should join other political parties, but that if circumstances lead them to become independent, their rights as deputies will not be affected,” he said.
The initiative has sparked controversy among some deputies, with Rodrigo Pellecer from Comunidad Elefante expressing surprise at the speed at which the initiative was analyzed and approved. He described the favorable opinion with modifications as a “fast-track” document, and stated that he would explain his vote and vote against it.
Meanwhile, Raúl Barrera, elected by the Semilla Movement, and Congresswoman Evelyn Morataya were among the deputies who presented the initiative. Morataya clarified that the salary increase included in the initiative was not included in the original proposal and that she did not support it.
Understanding the Guatemalan Congress
The Guatemalan Congress is the legislative body of the Republic of Guatemala, composed of 160 deputies elected by popular vote for
